“What are you thinking about?” the state preceptor asked as he hugged the empress dowager’s waist.
The empress dowager pushed him away and said unhappily, “We could have had a baby. It’s all your fault that you didn’t take good care of him. Now it is unknown whether the child is alive or dead.”
The state preceptor was also a little annoyed when he thought of this, “Yeah, it’s all my fault. I wish I hadn’t sent the child so far away, but I searched everywhere, but I couldn’t find it.”
“Hum, it’s okay for you. Anyway, you also have your own family and children even if without that child. I only have an adopted child.”
“But your foster son became the Emperor,” the state preceptor said, “Isn’t it better than anything? You have become the most honorable woman in the world, and the entire harem follows your orders.”
“After all, he’s not my flesh and blood. He won’t be close to me.”
“Shh, it’s just fine to say such words in front of me. Don’t let outsiders hear it. People will gossip.”
The empress dowager was still unhappy.
State preceptor hold her in his arms again. “See what I brought you.”
“What?”
“It comes from a tribe in Baoning city, made by ram’s horns and used for combing hair. It’s said that it can help the hair grow longer and better.”
Empress dowager took the comb and seemed to feel better.
She lay in state preceptor’s arms and said, “Alas, if the child is still alive, I must bring her to the palace and let her enjoy the glory and wealth.”
……
To the north of Great Qi Dynasty.
Heihe city had become a living hell ever since seized by the Northern Qing Kingdom.
People from Northern Qing Kingdom beat, smashed, plundered, burned, raped and pillaged here, killing innocent lives.
Some refugees who survived fled towards the Linglong County.
They thought that the Linglong County was also a part of the Great Qi Dynasty. However, after they fled here, they found that the city gate was actually closed for not allowing refugees to enter.
The refugees were trying to rush in by force, but overnight this place was suddenly heavy-guarded. The defense against refugees was stronger than against the soldiers of Northern Qing kingdom.
This was the state preceptor order.
The capital city was located in the south of the Linglong County. If the Linglong County fell into the enemy’s hands, the Great Qi Dynasty would be at risk and the burden would be very heavy.
Granaries would be opened to relieve the refugees once they flooded in the Linglong County. But these granaries would not last for many days. Then those refugees would plunder in the city and chaos would ensue.
Once the Linglong County was in a chaotic situation, more refugees would enter the capital city, and the situation would become more unstable.
State preceptor thought Northern Qing Kingdom should slaughter the city since the Heihe city had been lost and Great Qi Empire also should give up these refugees.
For a time, the people who escaped from the Heihe city were gathering in front of the city gate, screaming in pain.
One of refugees was a man called Yan Ziyan.
He was not a native of the Heihe city. He just went to Heihe city to deliver a letter as entrusted by a friend. Unfortunately, Heihe city was attacked by Northern Qing Country soon after he arrived there. He escorted his friend’s parents to escape, and now they just arrived at the Linglong County.
These refugees had been starving for several days. They thought that as long as they escaped from Heihe city, they would be safe in the Linglong County. Who knew the Linglong County was so well guarded that even a fly couldn’t enter the city.
The refugees dared not to complain, only wailing about their plight.
But Yan Ziyan was furious.
He shouted under the gate, “Is there any justice in this world? We have been living in the Great Qi empire for generations. But the imperial court didn’t protect its people, and even though we had fled here, you still refuse to let us in. Are you going to watch us die from starvation outside the city?”
The refugees also began to chime in with him, “Ah, can you show us a way to live?”
“I can’t imagine we would die in the hands of our own, instead of those people from Northern Qing Country. You are all demons and the Emperor of the City is a fatuous ruler!”
“…”
At first, the soldiers were completely indifferent when they heard the wailing of the refugees, butthey got furious once they heard those refugees scolding the Emperor.
One of the leading guards picked up a bow and shot an arrow towards the refugee who had just scolded the Emperor.
Shot through the heart, the refugee immediately fell, spouted a mouthful of blood and died before saying a word.
An innocent life was finished in a second.
The people below immediately became quiet and stared blankly at the dead refugee.
They had seen many dead for so long, but he was the first to be killed by their own.
They were suddenly resigned to their fate.
They would die no matter what they do, escaping or resisting. They could only look up to the heaven, hoping that God would be able to give them a slim chance of survival.
Yan Ziyan clenched his fists tightly while looking at the dead refugee.
After a while, he suddenly shouted, “Since the Linglong City does not take us in, let’s go. Guys, follow me, I do not believe that God will not give us a way to live.”
The refugees stared at Yan Ziyan.
Behind them was the Heihe city, with the soldiers of Northern Qing Kingdom. The Linglong County in front of them was not allowed to enter, so where could they go?
Yan Ziyan said, “We’d die anyway sooner or later. Follow me if you trust me, otherwise just wait here!”
The refugees had nowhere to go so they just followed him.
Thousands of refugees, old and young, men and women, all walked behind Yan Ziyan.
……
In fact, Yan Ziyan was not sure that he could help the refugees survive.
Heihe city was behind them, and Longling County was in the front, then he would have to go west.
To the west were high mountains, one after another, with tigers and beasts lurking inside. So they might not be able to survive if they went there. Besides, these refugees were already hungry and had no strength left since they had made their way here.
However, they would be dead anyway, so why not try their luck to the mountains?
The refugees followed Yan Ziyan for a while, knowing that Yan Ziyan definitely wanted to take them to the mountains. They knew that the deep mountains were also ominous, but they had nowhere to go except going up the mountain.
They might be eaten by wild animals in the mountains, or might starve to death because they couldn’t find anything to eat.
Also, some people were already at their last gasp and might not be able to make it into the mountain.
However, Yan Ziyan seemed to have a natural leadership. After he made the call, all refugees followed him into the mountain. Some dying were carried by stronger ones. They helped each other to climb the mountain.
The soldiers guarding the city were confused.
The originally crowds were now slowly dispersed, then they left the city gate gradually and going west.
“Where are they going?” someone asked.
“The west is Daxing Mountain. They want to escape into the deep mountains.”
“Humph, they will be eaten by the tiger.”
“Just get lost so we don’t have to be on guard all the time.”
“Keep watching, in case they suddenly come back.”
“…”
……
It seemed that they were blessed by Heaven. More than 1,000 people led by Yan Ziyan actually found a way to survive after arriving at the mountain.
This area was surrounded by mountains. Occasionally, some villagers would go up the mountain to collect firewood, and some medicine boys would come to collect medical herbs. People had also heard that there were beasts on the mountain, so normally people seldom came up to the mountain.
Not long after Yan Ziyan and others went up the mountain, they found a wild pear tree. The pear tree was full of fruits and the branches were almost bent.
They were instantly excited. Yan Ziyan was also good at kung fu and immediately summoned a few people who could climb onto trees to pick wild fruits.
Even though there were many people, it was still enough for one for each.
Yan Ziyan said that no looting was allowed, and everyone would have one in order. Anyone who grabbed food would have nothing to eat.
The autumn pear had a lot of water. Although it was not as sweet as the one grown by farmer, it was able to relieve hunger and thirst. Some people even swallowed the core.
After they had the pear, their strength were replenished to some extent and they continued to go up the mountain to avoid being chased by soldiers.
After walking up the mountain for a while, they successively found some other fruit trees. Yan Ziyan picked up some fruits and shared them with others.
One mountain after another, they climbed over one mountain and walked through a river. The river could relieve their thirst. There were fish in the river, and wild vegetables were on both sides of the river. Some refugees had brought pots along with them. They used the pots to cook fish and a bundle of wild vegetables. The food made in each pot was enough for twenty people.
At first, some wanted to grab food, but they were stopped by Yan Ziyan. He said that all of them were trying to survive. Anyone who wanted to snatch food selfishly would not be allowed to follow the team. People would easily be eaten by the beasts on the mountain if they left the team and walked on their own.
No one dared to snatch food from then on. Who dared to act alone in the deep mountains?
Yan Ziyan divided the refugees into several groups: one was responsible for cutting wood, one was responsible for picking wild fruits and wild vegetables, and some were responsible for hunting.
There was a lot of wild animals in the deep mountains. As long as they had some skills, they wouldn’t worry about having no meat to eat.
After eating some food and having a good rest, the refugees gradually regained their physical strength. They had built a few rows of wooden houses at the foot of the mountain, and their days were slowly getting better.
……
Tianshan tribe.
That day, Qian Qi came.
Qian Qi was here to visit Xiao baoshan. Doctor Xiao had been here for so many days and gave Xiao Baoshan two months to recuperate, he would soon recover.
Xiao Baoshan was gradually getting better indeed, and he could recall most things.
“General Xiao…” Qian Qi’s thoughts were complicated. At first, he hated Xiao Baoshan, but later, he admired him very much. When he learned that Xiao was willing to give up his life to protect his family, he felt even more grateful.
Xiao Baoshan had always had a gentle personality. First, he invited Qian Qi to sit in the yurt, then he asked Xiao Baozhu to bring Little Xun out for fun, and he personally cooked milk tea for Qian Qi.
“I only have milk tea here. General Qian, are you used to drinking it?”
“Of course. We are all vulgar and rough men. We’d drink whatever we could get. Besides, this is milk tea, not raw water. Think about what we drink when we’re on the battlefield. We even drank human blood, I mean enemies’ blood, of course.”
Qian Qi then asked Xiao Baoshan, “By the way, do you still remember what happened on the battlefield?” Last time I saw you, you didn’t remember anything.
“I remembered most of them,” Xiao Baoshan said.
“Did you remember the fourth lord and my big brother before?” Qian Qi asked again.
